exploited
Americanadjective
-
utilized or made practical use of, especially for profit.
Edible insects are a widely exploited food source among many of the world’s Indigenous populations.
-
used selfishly by someone for their own ends.
Every one of these exploited workers shared stories of their inhumane working conditions and their determination to fight back.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exploited
Explanation
Something that's exploited is fully taken advantage of. Fear is probably the most commonly exploited emotion used by directors of horror films. Exploited talents are ones that have been put to good use. And resources that are exploited are being used advantageously. However, this word is quite often used in a more negative way, to mean "used in a victimizing way." In some countries, exploited children are forced to work long hours in bad conditions. When animals are used to test shampoo, most people agree these critters are also exploited.
Vocabulary lists containing exploited
The Hate U Give
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President Trump's First State of The Union Address (2018)
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President Obama announces Executive Action on Gun Control
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Guthrie family plans to donate $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026
Federal law requires all U.S. technology companies to report detected child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, meanwhile, is reportedly scrubbing all mentions of trans kids from its resources.
From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025
The 71-year-old co-founded International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and is the widow of the former UK ambassador to the US Sir Christopher Meyer.
From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024
The effect of naming, the effect, that is, of saying that the labor groups C and M, but not X, are underpaid, instead of saying that Labor is Exploited, is incisive.
From Public Opinion by Lippmann, Walter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
